TBABJ mourns the loss of pioneering black journalist, educator Lionel C. Barrow Jr.

I don't remember the exact date when I met Dr. Lionel C. Barrow Jr. But the moment itself is etched in my mind, like discovering Jackie Robinson lives in your neighborhood.

Dr. Barrow had come to a TBABJ meeting with no fanfare or fuss, waiting until the moment when we introduced ourselves around the table to reveal the extent of his achievements. And what a list: former vice president and associate director of research for the nation’s third oldest advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding in New York, New York; Dean of the School of Communications at Howard University from 1975-1985; founder and onetime head of the Minorities and Communication division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). And more.

And despite his many achievements, Dr. Barrow never talked down to us or condescended. He just let us know that he was available for counsel whenever we might need him and made plain he would be keeping an eye on us.

We never saw him as much as we wanted; even in recent years, Dr. Barrow had a busy life. But whenever he stopped by a meeting or function, he always had time for a word of wisdom, a smile and encouraging thoughts. I felt a sense of pride that a man so accomplished cared enough for our little group to stay in touch.

TBABJ offers condolences to Dr. Barrow's family and gives thanks that we had the priviledge of meeting such an accomplished black journalist and learning from his example.

Sincerely,

Eric Deggans

TBABJ President

TV/Media Critic, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times

The following is a tribute circulated by TBABJ member and Barrow mentee Rodney Thrash:

Dr. Lionel C. Barrow, Jr………… a Legacy
Educator, journalist, professor emeritus, civil rights activist, former Dean of the Howard University School of Communications, Dr. Lionel C. Barrow, Jr. (Lee to all 12/17/26 ) passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Friday January 23, 2009, in Tampa, Florida.

While at the Melech LifePath Hospice, Dr. Barrow celebrated with pride, tears and applause the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States, while reflecting on his fellow Morehouse College classmate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

His powerful involvement in the 1960’s with the Unity Democratic Club in Brooklyn, NY, resulted in the successful election of Representative Shirley Chisholm to the Congress of the United States, and most recently that fervor carried him on to work for the election of Barack Obama, while campaigning to be a Super Delegate.

Throughout his distinguished life and career, he provided leadership too many organizations. From 1961-1971, Dr. Barrow was a researcher in the advertising industry. In 1968, he became vice president and associate director of research for the nation’s third oldest advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding in New York, New York. He served as Dean of the School of Communications at Howard University from 1975-1985 during which time the school radio station was established.

As a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), Dr. Barrow pioneered and founded in 1968 the Ad Hoc Committee on Minority Education, in an effort to recruit, train and place minorities in communications. In 1970, he founded and became the acting head of the Minorities and Communication Division of AEJMC. The AEJMC established the Lionel C. Barrow Scholarship in his honor in 1970 to support graduate education for women and minorities seeking to become professionals in the communication field. The scholarship is available today. In 1997, he received the AEJMC Presidential Award for his contributions.

His legacy survives in his research and in the faces, voices and contributions of African-Americans, other minority journalists, and women on radio, television and other media.
Dr. Barrow is survived by his beloved wife, Dr. Frederica Barrow, five daughters, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He was initiated into Alpha Rho chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, at Morehouse College, May 25, 1944.

A memorial celebration will be held for Dr. Barrow at Grace Episcopal Church in Tampa, Florida on February 8, 2009 at 1:00 pm. A second memorial celebration is planned in the Washington, DC area the weekend of February 14-15, 2009.